Hiking with the LOWA Camino GTX Backpacking Boots

I have been to so many places around the world but there seems to be a common scene in the United States. Americans love their flip-flops and use them as hiking “boots”. I have seen this at various National Parks and other interesting outdoor places around the country. I can’t do a hike without good and protective footwear. I love a good set of sturdy boots which feel comfortable but are also durable. In December I was looking for new shoes as my current set was too worn. I wanted to get great boots, rather than just some hiking shoes or sneakers this time. I am on my feet all the time. After some browsing and research online, it seemed like I found the perfect boot. These boots were made by LOWA. I looked for the closest dealer in my current location and found an REI near Milwaukee. 

Call me old-fashioned but I don’t like to buy clothing online, especially not without having them fit-tested before. It’s different for a jacket or sweatshirt but shoes must fit right. You will be miserable if your feet are miserable. Originally, I was looking to buy a different model from LOWA and tried it at the REI store. While I was there, I saw the Camino GTX and tried them as well. These boots looked great and had a ton of amazing features I liked. Unfortunately, my size was not in stock, and I had to wait about a week to get a pair shipped to the store for pickup.

Oh, boy was I happy when I got the email notification that the boot arrived. Right after work, I headed to REI and picked them up. I did a short fittest at the hotel followed by a walk through town. The boot felt super comfortable, but it needed some breaking in time. I kept using the boot after work to take shorter treks through the city as I was exploring and photographing all over town. The boots were never uncomfortable, but I felt this weird squeeze in the beginning. As the weekend approached the squeeze in the shoes was gone and they were ready for bigger trips.

The boots are rather “heavy” for being hiking boots. If you are not used to that, keep that in mind. However, for work, I must wear heavy steel-toed boots and the LOWA Camino GTX wasn’t nearly as heavy as these boots. 

The weekend approached and I was heading to Chicago for work. I used the boots to explore the windy city in the middle of December. It was cold and wet, and the boots kept my feet comfortably warm. I didn’t wear any special socks to improve insulation. Speaking about insulation, these boots are not insulated for cold weather, but they are so well built, you can use them for cold and hot exploring days. The Camino GTX is so comfortable, and I got so used to these boots that I made them my everyday footwear. I even wore them on my upcoming flight and had no issues while on the plane feeling uncomfortable. One of the main reasons to wear the boots instead of checking them is weight. My bags are always maxed out and I wanted to avoid overweight charges. 

Extra Tip

On long-haul flights I usually fly business class and therefore take off my shoes while on the plane. However, when using the lavatory or getting around the plane I put them back on. To make it fast and quick to get in and out of the boots on a plane, I put the shoelaces inside the boot. Now I can just slip in and out of the boots like they were slippers. This way I protect myself from tripping over my laces and also keeps them clean by not stepping on them.

I wore these boots to explore the hills in the Bay Area and the Mojave Desert a few days later. Just a few days ago I went snowmobiling in West Yellowstone. I didn’t wear the LOWA Camino GTX for the actually snowmobiling part of the trip, but I wore them to explore the town afterward. I walked on ice and snow-packed streets as well over fields covered in snow. Again, I just wore a regular set of socks, and my feet didn’t get cold at all. The heat in the desert was also no problem. I didn’t notice any excessive sweating in the boots either. 

I love these boots. They feel comfortable on my feet and give me a lot of support. They have an amazing grip on all kinds of trail conditions. Nevertheless, there are specific surfaces these boots don’t like. It’s metal surfaces if they are wet. Like steel plates and utility access hole covers. I noticed that in Chicago. It got a little slippery on these surfaces. It wasn’t that bad that I would slip and trip, but it was definitely noticeable when walking on these surfaces. 

Oh, and there is one more activity for which these boots and every other boot are not made for. Long-distance driving, especially if you must conquer the L.A. traffic while on the way. Boots are definitely not made for stop-and-go traffic. Long stretches of Highway are not a problem, where you can set the cruise control and relax. I wore the LOWA Camino GTX also while driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. I stopped many times along the way to take short hikes to overlooks and scenic viewpoints. It was the perfect footwear for all the hikes along the coast and up on steep cliffs and rocks.

I spent multiple days wearing the boots for 10+ hours and my feet didn’t hurt or were sore at all. These are super comfortable boots. Donning and doffing Is also super easy thanks to many features of the boot, more about it below. You really can slip them on and off as you would with sneakers. Pull the laces tight and the boot will fit comfortably around your foot. Magic. Literally, no fighting to get them on or off. If I compare this with my work boots, it’s like day and night.

I bored you enough with all my stories about my experiences with this pair of amazing boots. Let’s get technical.

Facts

• Upper: Heinen Terracare® Nubuck Leather
• Lining: GORE-TEX for waterproofing
• Insole: Climate Control
• Midsole: DuraPU® w/ SPS System
• Outsole: VIBRAM® Apptrail
• Stabilizer: Trekking Medium
• Weight: 775 g/Single Shoe
• Country of Origin: Germany

The two-zone lacing feature allows the wearer to adjust the lacing tension of the upper foot and forefoot independently of each other. The lower foot portion of the boot features roller eyelets. These are metal eyelets that have small rollers to minimize friction and equalize the tension. An anatomically shaped and padded tongue is designed to improve ankle flex and decrease pressure points on your foot. Combined with LOWA’s X-Lacing, which holds the tongue in place horizontally as well as vertically, you get amazing comfort while wearing these boots. The shoe can flex to give you the ultimate comfort while also giving you maximum stability. 

If you take diligent care of your boots, these boots will last a lifetime. Here are the official care instructions. LOWA’s trekking and backpacking boots, which also include the Camino GTX, can be repaired and resold. 

The Camino GTX is available in two color combinations – Dark Gray/Black as well as Anthracite/Kiwi.

Price

As mentioned earlier, these boots are not cheap, but you also pay for quality. LOWA listed the Camino GTX at $325. However, they are not sold anymore as the Camino Evo GTX was released in early 2022. You might want to avoid Amazon and eBay to purchase these boots. If you buy from anyone else, which is not listed as an authorized dealer on LOWA’s website, LOWA won’t accept your returns, exchanges, or warranty claims. This is a bit of a downside to LOWA products. We all love our online shopping websites, especially Amazon.

The LOWA Camino GTX is not available anymore through the LOWA website as this boot is now succeed by the LOWA Camino EVO GTX.

Conclusion

The Camino GTX is categorized as a backpacking boot, but it can also be used for hiking and other activities. For me, it became my day-to-day wear. I haven’t regretted buying these boots which I did almost a year ago. I wear them every day, no matter what activities.

At the beginning of 2022, LOWA released the Camino Evo GTX. A new updated version of the acclaimed Camino GTX. They made a few small updates to the boot including an “ankle patch” to give you more ankle flex when walking uphill and a new sole package to improve rolling properties. This one is marked with a price of $335 on LOWA’s website. Just a little bit more expensive than the original Camino GTX. Personally, if I bought a new pair right now, I would go with the EVO version. The EVO version is also available in three different color styles compared to only two for the original Camino GTX. 

As for the writing of this post, availability for both shows in all sizes is extremely limited. You might want to check with a local authorized dealer, like REI, if they have your boot and size in any of their warehouses. 

Disclaimer

I didn’t receive any kind of compensation or other benefits from LOWA for writing this review. I honestly believe in the quality and comfort of these boots. The boots were bought with my own money, and it is a great investment. 

As LOWA is not officially selling the Camino GTX anymore, I would suggest you buy the successor – Camino Evo GTX. I haven’t tested them, but I am sure they will be as amazing as mine.